Police and landlords crack down on trouble (From York Press)

Police and pub landlords crack down on alcohol-related trouble

12:38pm Wednesday 2nd May 2012 in Ryedale news By Karen Darley

A MEETING to develop a joint approach to tackling alcohol-related incidents in Malton and Norton is being held next week.

Ryedale police inspector Andy Everitt has called the meeting with the aim of establishing a shared plan involving the police and licensees to clamp down on ‘unacceptable behaviour’ in the towns.

Insp Everitt said he had been prompted to bring people together following a busy Easter bank holiday weekend with a number of incidents reported in Malton town centre.

“It is the responsibility of all licensees and agencies including ourselves to ensure that collectively we work together in reducing any type of violence and promote Malton and Norton as a safe place to go out at night,” he said.

Insp Everitt said it was his aim to have more volunteers manning CCTV on a Friday and Saturday night who will be in contact with door staff.

“Working together they can identify potential problems before they build into something bigger,” he said. “It is my view that if a licensee decides to eject a member of the public from that bar then they are barred from all for that evening and CCTV is a key factor in this – this approach will prevent problems building up later in the evening.”

Insp Everitt said he also believed that licensees also had the power to consider banning anyone arrested for a public order or drink-related offence from all licensed premises and pubs in the Malton and Norton area for six to 12 months.

He said: “If people decide to come into Malton and Norton for a night out and think they will get away with unacceptable behaviour, that is not the case and we will be working together to prevent problems arising and reinforcing a common structure of what is acceptable.”

Letters have been sent to all licensed premises including pubs, off licences and supermarkets inviting a representative to the meeting at the Milton Rooms on Tuesday.

Those present will include Insp Everitt, North Yorkshire Police’s licensing officer Sgt Matt France and Sgt Daniel Spence, along with Ryedale licensing officer Ronnie McClure, Ryedale crime and disorder officer Sandi Clark, community partnership officer Gail Cook and Mick Lyons, chairman of Malton and Norton Pubwatch.

Mr Lyons said he would be sending out his own letter to encourage licensees to attend the meeting and ‘reboot’ pubwatch.

“It is important that we are all singing from the same hymn book and this gives all landlords and licensees a forum to communicate with each other,” he said.

“I would encourage everyone involved in the licensing trade to go along to the meeting and see what Insp Everitt has to say and also share their own ideas.”